Seven sparkling songs of Rati Agnihotri

 

Two posters adorned the walls of my room in my schooldays. One was of Kumar Gaurav and the other was of Rati Agnihotri. They remain my ‘popstars’ of my teens. 

Seeing Rati Agnihotri films now has made me realise that her films always had great songs, most of them by Laxmikant Pyarelal and R D Burman. She was one of the few actresses of her time to have music director Ravi compose music for one of her films (Tawaif).  Here’s following her journey with some of her best melodies.

 1. Solah baras ki baali umar                        Ek Dujjhe ke liye               1981

Ek Dujjhe Ke Liye was directed by K. Balachander. It was a remake of his Tamil film Maro Charitra. Rati’s first Hindi film and definitely among her best. This film was a super hit in its time and has made a place in Indian films history as one of the lasting love stories. Vasu-Sapna became legendary at that time and rewatching this film tells us why. The magic is intact in this film with the chemistry between Kamal Hassan and Rati, no matter how many times we watch it. It was tough to choose just one song from this film as Rati Agnihotri shines brilliantly in all of them. Based on Raag Ahir Bhairav, Solah baras ki touches very poignant chords as Sapna visits various places to relive moments that she spent there with Vasu.  Written by Anand Bakshi and music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal, this song is rendered beautifully by Lata Mangeshkar.

Trivia: The tune of Solah baras ki can be spotted in the background score composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal for Raj Kapoor’s film Bobby during the scene where Bobby ( Dimple Kapadia) leaves for Kashmir.

2. Chalo haseen geet ek banayein                        Shaukeen     1982

Rati plays the role of Anita as a singer at a local club in Goa. This film was a huge hit and was the among the highest grossing movies of 1982. The music of this film was by R D Burman and the song Chalo haseen geet is sung by Ashok Kumar and Chirashree Bhattacharya and written by Yogesh. A fresh and breezy song which is timeless and can get our feet tapping every time we hear it.

Trivia: Shaukeen is based on Samaresh Basu’s novel. Gulzar’s Kitaab and Namkeen are also based on this author’s novels.

 3. Aisa to socha na tha         Pasand apni apni               1983

Pasand Apni Apni was a Basu Chatterjee film and the song Aisa toh socha na tha is filmed in the classic Basu Chatterjee style. Local train of Bombay, heroine in a simple cotton saree with situations and emotions that the common man can relate to. It is interesting to note how Rati Agnihotri readily took on a deglamourised role in this film. She plays the role of a struggling actress whose life path crosses with a millionaire (Mithun Chakraborty) and events unfold in a light yet engrossing tale. Aisa toh socha na tha is sung by Asha Bhosale with music composed by Bappi Lahiri and lyrics by Yogesh.

      4. Boom Boom            Star                            1983

Right after the Nazia Hassan wave in India with Qurbani, Nazia Hassan and her brother Zoheb Hassan made a couple of private albums with Biddu, following which Biddu produced Kumar Gaurav -Rati Agnihotri film Star. Rati Agnihotri was the only screen persona to get the playback of Nazia Hassan on screen besides Zeenat Aman. Star had a very successful soundtrack and Boom Boom remains mint fresh every time we see it. She played the role of Maya who works at a nightclub.

As my opening paragraph will tell you, knowing that Rati Agnihotri and Kumar Gaurav were coming together in a film had made my schoolfriends and me nearly delirious with expectations. It was a bit of a setback to see that they were not paired together in the actual sense ( I will avoid spoilers here in case someone sees the film now!) It was also a disappointment that the film didn’t click at the box office.

    5. Sajna sun sun          Rishta Kagaz Ka                  1983

The first thing you will realise when you see this song is that the whole situation looks very familiar.  Aarti, played by Rati Agnihotri, is trying to woo and distract Arun , played by Raj Babbar , from his work. It feels like this song was made as a tribute to Bindiya chamkegi from Do Raaste. The tribute is complete with Rati wearing an orange saree with a clear accolade and salute to Mumtaz in this song.  This is purely my conjecture and, despite searching on the net, I have managed to find no reference to this. However, I am totally convinced that this song was filmed keeping Bindiya chamkegi in mind. It just seems too much of a coincidence to have so many unintended similar points in a song (I have this same conjecture for another song in this list and you will come across that soon!)

    6. Mujhe tum yaad karna    Mashaal                    1984

The lyrics of this song caught my fancy the first time I heard them. All songs in hindi films that precede any parting between lovers talk of parting as an anguish of love and say things like ‘Bhoolne waale yaad na aa’ or ‘tum yaad na aaya karo’. This song instead asks to make sure they remember each other.  

Mujhe tum yaad karna aur

Mujhko yaad aana tum

Even the stanzas are out of the box with the boy telling the girl to meet people and stay busy and smiling, while she tells him to smile and be friendly with every approaching girl. Which is very different from the standard parting duet where the boy and girl concentrate on telling each other to keep on remembering them!

Sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar to the music composed by Hridaynath Mangeshkar, this song is written by Javed Akhtar. Rati Agnihotri plays the role of Geeta who is a press reporter and comes across Raja (Anil Kapoor) who decides to turn over a new leaf under the mentoring of the editor Vinod Kumar (Dilip kumar) who she works for.

     7. Bhool ho gayee jaane de   Zabardast 1985

The conjecture I mentioned for another song is for this one! This song also feels like a clear tribute to Shammi Kapoor- Asha Parekh song O mere Sona re from Teesri Manzil. Here, there is a distinct connection as both are Nasir Hussain films. The heroine wooing the hero, the female solo with lyrics laced in mischievous pleading, the broken handbag strap of the hero halfway through the song…well, this was elementary, my dear Watson! This is an Asha Bhosale solo composed by R D Burman and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. O mere sona re also had the exact same creators. If you see both these songs one after the other, you will realise the joie de vivre is the same in both, a lot of which is a credit to the actors Rati Agnihotri and Rajeev Kapoor as Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh were a tough act to follow. People who just do remixes should observe these songs to understand what a real tribute is. The entire creation is new, there is a lot of hard work and the team brings together something that is a masterpiece even when seen after the original.

6. 

We see that Rati’s films have very little stereotyping if we follow her career graph. From a career-oriented journalist in Mashaal to a housewife in Rishta Kagaz ka to a tawaif in the film Tawaif, she took on a wide range of roles and made a mark even though the films in those days mostly centered on the hero. Hope you enjoyed following Rati Agnihotri’s musical journey in Bollywood. Comment with your favourite Rati Agnihotri song!

SEVEN SCINTILLATING SONGS OF SHABANA AZMI

 

When we talk of Shabana Azmi, we usually refer to her acting prowess which has, of course, been brilliant over the years. She has nailed every role she has acted in. However, here we are going to talk about her songs that have made a mark in our minds and remain etched forever with the roles she played, each song thus has a distinct identity because she has always immersed herself completely in the roles she has portrayed. Shabana Azmi began her career in 1974 with films like Ankur and Parinay. I start my list with Kadambari. The list follows a chronological order (as all my lists on this blog do)!

1.    Ambar ki ik paak suraahi    Kadambari  1975

 The song Ambar ki ik paak surahi from her film Kadambari is written by Amrita Pritam, the film is based on her novel as well. Chetna (her role in Kadambari) talks of the purity of her love for Amit (played by Vijay Arora) in the film. The lyrics compare what others may call sin to the chasteness of moonlight. Asha Bhosale sings this beautiful song, composed by Ustad Vilayat Khan, the eminent sitarist. This song is a precious gem with maestros like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia playing the flute, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma playing the santoor (don’t miss the beautiful strains of the santoor at the beginning of this song), Shujat Singh with the composer himself playing the sitar and Bhupinder Singh with the guitar. This is a rare, rare song, to be savoured in peace.

2.    Pal bhar mein yeh kya ho gaya  Swami  1977

If I had to select one song that embodied the feeling of falling in love, it would be this. Swami was the first Basu Chatterjee film for which Rajesh Roshan held the baton of music director. (Read more on this here HERE  )

Amit Khanna penned this beautiful rain drenched solo of Lata Mangeshkar. The whirl of emotions of Saudamini (played by Shabana Azmi with such passion) as she blissfully gets drenched in the rain while welcoming the joy of being in love with Narendra (played by Vikram) makes this song magic on celluloid.

 

3.    Main toh kaare badarwa se haari    Devta   1978

A beautiful Lata solo composed by R D Burman and written by Gulzar, this again is a lesser-known song of Shabana Azmi and deserves much greater recognition. A very lilting tune. Shabana Ami costarred with Sanjeev Kumar in this film, although this song is picturised on Benjamin Gilani.

4.    O shaam aayi rangon mein    Jeena Yahan  1979

This is a lesser heard song and I absolutely had to place it in this list. This is one of the sweetest Lata Mangeshkar solos of the 70s composed by Salil Chowdhury and penned by Yogesh. Very few know about it as this film slipped by the radar for many of us.  Even though this song is lip synched by Kiran Vairale in the film, the focus is entirely on Shabana Azmi. An everyday song situation where Shabana Azmi is visiting her husband’s family and they have gone for boating as a day out, this song blends into the mood perfectly. Shabana Azmi plays these natural scenes with such normalcy that we forget we are watching a film; it becomes as if we are watching a scene from someone’s personal life.

5.    Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho    Arth   1982

If I had to select one Shabana Azmi song that is my favourite, it would be this one. I don’t think any actress in the world could have portrayed the emotions the way she has in this song. The vulnerability, extreme sadness, and helplessness of Pooja when she is handed her divorce papers on her birthday, and yet having to try and smile as her friend Raj wishes her a happy birthday are magical cinema moments on screen. Sung and composed by Jagjit Singh and written by her father Kaifi azmi, this song is definitely among the most touching songs of Shabana Azmi.

 

6.    Phir se aaiyo badraa bidesi     Namkeen    1982

Written by Gulzar, sung by Asha Bhosale and composed by R D Burman, Phir se aaiyo is filmed with a lot of nostalgia and pathos in the valleys of Himachal Pradesh. Mitthu, who is an intelligent girl, is held back in life by difficult circumstances of her family which are further deepened by her inability to talk. The notes of the song ring with haunting intensity and Shabana Azmi enhances the poignancy by her understated and brilliant portrayal of Mitthu.

Tere jaane ki rut main jaanti hoon ,

Mud ki aane ki reet hai ke nahin?

 

7.    Do naina aur ek kahaani    Masoom       1983

The dilemma that Indu faces after being confronted with the reality by her husband and the conflict in being unable to reach out to innocent Rahul as, every time she sees him, the anguish of her husband’s betrayal becomes fresh for her all over again. Shabana Azmi’s eyes speak volumes in this song. This is more than just the lullaby she sings to her two daughters; it is her exhausted mind that is wondering if things will ever be the same again. Sometimes sorrow knocks on the door and stays back as a more-or-less constant factor in life. The way we handle it is what decides the quality of the rest of our life. Gulzar and R D Burman once again, the song is sung by Aarti Mukherjee.

Hope you enjoyed being on this musical journey of Shabana Azmi songs. As I limit my listicles to seven, I am sure I have missed out mentioning many melodious songs here. Do write in with more of your favourite songs of this incredible actress!

 

Seven songs showcasing Bombay meri jaan

A topic that touches two of my favourites: Hindi film songs and the beautiful city of Mumbai. Although the essence of the city has remained the same over the years, it feels so nice to revisit the Bombay of old that is captured in Hindi films where certain years and decades of this city are available, frozen in time, for us to revisit whenever we want.

1.Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan                      1956

Film: CID

Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan,

Zara hatt ke, zara bach ke,

Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan…

Seeing Bombay of the 50s in black and white films lends a whole new aura and glamour of the past to those days. From Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) to the tanga breezing through Marine Drive, this song shows us many glimpses of Bombay of the 50s. The lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri have captured both the angst as well as the joy of this city. His words Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan are now the tagline of so many things written about this city. Sung by Mohd Rafi and Geeta Dutt, and music composed by O P Nayyar, this song tops most lists of Bombay songs. Interesting side note that this is probably the only song that mentions the trams of Mumbai.

Kahin building kahin traame,
Kahin motor, kahin mill,
Milta hai yahan sab kuchh,
Ik milta nahin dil…

Insaan ka nahin kahin naam o nishaan
Zara hatt ke, zara bach ke
Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan….

2. Babu samjho ishaare                           1958

Film: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

This song has five stars within it. The three brothers Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar, and Kishore Kumar, their vintage car Ford Model A and the city of Bombay. As the brothers ride on the streets of Mumbai ,from the start of the song, we can see the classic landmarks of Churchgate, Western Railway headquarters and Eros cinema.

Yahan chalti ko gaadi, kehta hain pyaare

Composed by S D Burman and penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, this song is magic on celluloid.

On a side note, a part of the road of Bandra Sea face is seen in this song as well as in Kiski muskarahaton pe in Anari.  Both films released within a year of each other CKNG 1958 and Anari 1959.

3. Jaaneman jaaneman               1976

Film: Chhoti si baat 

This song covers the office goers’ Bombay. From local bus travel to queueing for the lift at Express Towers at Nariman Point, this song is an enticing look at the city with all its opportunities. This film covers many other landmark locations in Bombay like Samovar restaurant at Jehangir Art Gallery, landmarks which have long gone now but live on in Basu Chatterjee films. It was a tough call to select just one song from this film as the other two (Yeh din kya aaye and Na jaane kyun) also cover many other delightful scenes of Bombay. Sung by Yesudas and Asha Bhosale, music by Salil Choudhary and written by Yogesh, this song captures mid 70s Mumbai in all its glory.

 

 

4. Tumhe ho na ho mujhko to               1977

Film: Gharonda

This is Bombay as it was in the late 70s. A beautiful solo by Runa Laila, music by Jaidev and penned oh so mesmerisingly by Naqsh Lyallpuri, this song starts off from the restaurant Naaz at Hanging Gardens and goes on to film nariyal paani and bhel puri at Juhu Beach and culminates fittingly at Nariman Point for this stanza.

Koi khwaab oonche makaanon se jhaanke

Koi khwab baitha rahe sarr jhukaaye

Kabhi dil ki raahon mein phaile andhera

Kabhi door tak Roshni muskuraye….

 

5. Seene mein jalan aankhon mein                 1978

Film: Gaman

However beloved a city, it also forms the background for the stress we live with. Seene mein jalan is the view of Mumbai through a stressed Farooque Shaikh driving the classic Kaali Peeli. The words underline the anxiety and work worries that overwhelm us. As the taxi rides through the streets of Bombay, we catch glimpses of the traffic, the shops and hawkers and then the sudden aerial view of the Queen’s Necklace at Marine Drive with the Brabourne stadium in clear view. Written by Shahryar ( Akhlaq Mohammad Khan) and composed by Jaidev, this is one of the finest solos of Suresh Wadkar. The song is a series of questions and we still don’t have answers to any of them.

 Kya koi nayi baat nazar aati hai hum mein

Aaina humein dekh ke hairan sa kyun hai

Seene mein jalan, Aankhon mein toofaan sa kyun hai

Is shehar mein har shaks pareshan sa kyun hai…

 

6. Suniye kahiye                 1979  

Film: Baton Baton mein

A distinctive joy of Basu Chatterjee films is that most of them showcase normal Bombay life with the normal by lanes, buses and trams. His films made Bombay the hero of the film as much as the main actors. Baton Baton Mein is shot entirely in Bombay, and primarily in its western suburb of Bandra. Watching Amol Palekar and Tina Munim traipsing through the streets of Bandra, travelling to work in the Mumbai local train and walking near Bandra sea face is a very nostalgic experience for those who remember the Bandra of the late 70s and early 80s. Even the opening credits in the film cover charming Bandra scenes from St Andrews church to Elco arcade on Hill Road.

7.Rhimjhim gire sawan                            1979

Film: Manzil

A song that is one of the foremost to hum in our minds at the beginning of monsoon in India, bringing visions of a rain drenched Marine Drive and a very much in love couple enacted by Amitabh Bachchan and Moushami Chatterjee skipping along the promenade, in a suit and a saree, with the waves splashing onto them. The scenes go on to capture them splashing through the rain at at Oval Maidan with Rajabai tower as well as the High Court in the background. Written by Yogesh and composed by R D Burman, this song could well be called the monsoon anthem of rain loving Bombay.

Is baar sawan mehka hua hai

Is baar mausam behka hua hai.. 

Jaane pee ke chali kya pawan 

Sulag sulag jaaye mann

Bheege aaj is mausam mein

Lagi kaisi yeh agan

Rhimjhim gire sawan…

Monsoon plus Mumbai is a very potent combination, and this song has bottled the romance that fills the air within its visuals. There, within our reach, whenever we want to feel it again.

The years will move on, and Bombay will continue to entice and exhilarate. Do write in the comments below to tell me about any film or song that showcased this city to your liking!

SEVEN RESONANT MELODIES OF RAJESH ROSHAN

 When we talk of music directors who have their own distinctive style, the name of Rajesh Roshan springs instantly to mind. Rajesh Roshan has made an indelible mark in hindi film music with his compositons, giving us over 50 years of melodious music. Let’s take a look at some of his beautiful numbers. An attempt has been made to include some not so often mentioned songs which are gems from his repertoire. 

1. Aa ri aa ja nindiya tu le chal kahin   (Kunwara Baap) 1974  

 This song never fails to tug at the heartstrings. The situation in the film is heart-breaking enough and Rajesh Roshan’s music and Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lyrics give the emotional goose bump inducing emphasis to it. Actor-filmmaker Mehmood had given an eighteen-year-old Rajesh Roshan his first break as a composer with this film. 

 

2. Yeh raatein nayi purani    (Julie )    1975

Although best known for Preeti Sagar’s lilting My heart is beating and Kishore Kumar’s soulful Dil kya kare, this dulcet solo of Lata Mangeshkar written by Anand Bakshi sounds fresh and fragrant whenever we hear this album. Julie was Rajesh Roshan’s second film for which he won his first Filmfare Award.

3. Johnny ko maine toh jaana hai aaj (Ginny aur Johnny )        1976

A lilting song from this ace composer for Mehmood again. A sweet song that touches a chord every time we hear it. Sung by Kishore Kumar and a very young Vijeyta Pandit, this song is a gem that has gone unnoticed by many Rajesh Roshan fans.

4. Pal bhar mein yeh kya ho gaya  (Swami )        1977

Swami was the first Basu Chatterjee film for which Rajesh Roshan held the baton of music director. This went on to be a long and beautiful association, creating mellifluous music for all of us to treasure in six more films that came later which were Priyatama, Khatta Meetha, Dillagi, Baton Baton Mein, Man Pasand and Humari Bahu Alka.

Swami has very soulful songs, from Yesudas’ Ka karun sajni to Kishore Kumar’s Yaadon mein woh. However, I chose this Lata solo because of the complete blend of her voice into the feeling of falling in love, drenched with the monsoon as a backdrop. Amit Khanna’s lyrics spark the magic further. The taar shehnai and the santoor seal the deal.Sheer magic.

5. Tumse mila tha pyaar  (Khatta Meetha)  1978          

 

Woh khwahishein ajeeb thi

Sapne ajeeb the…

A beautiful duet sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, penned by Gulzar. One more from the Basu Chatterjee- Rajesh Roshan team. This was filmed on Rakesh Roshan and Bindiya Goswami, one of many songs that Rajesh Roshan has composed for his brother to enact on screen. A delightful film which is remembered as much for the dialogues, acting and direction, as it is for the music. A song filled with nostalgia which makes us take a look at what we were years back and what we dreamt of.

 

6. Main kaun sa geet sunaaoon  (Dillagi)       978

One more gem from the Basu Chatterjee- Rajesh Roshan duo, penned by Yogesh. Lata Mangeshkar makes magic in this melodious solo, the calmness is further heightened by the use of the flute. This song has been filmed on the steps of a ghat (I am unsure of the exact location, but I believe this was near Mysore) and one can feel the cooling down of the day in the late evening with a refreshing breeze from the water in the tune of the song. The unlikely romance between Dharmendra as SwarnKamal - a newly appointed Sanskrit professor in a Girls college- and Hema Malini as Renu -a strict Chemistry lecturer further enhances the charm of this Rajesh Roshan masterpiece.  

          

7. Main akela apni dhun mein magan    (Man Pasand)   1980

I feel that the music of Man Pasand never got its rightful due because people were quick to shrug it off as the remake of My Fair Lady. What needed to be noticed was that Rajesh Roshan and Amit Khanna worked under a stringent framework of the original and yet they managed to give Man Pasand a unique Indianness in the composition as well as the lyrics. Main akela apni dhun mein magan is meant to replace ‘I’ve grown accustomed to her face’ of the original. It goes beyond that by being a song that is immortal in its magic now. Listen to this song and you will realise the magic that Amit Khanna’s words have created:

Mere sapno ka sach ho jana, sach ho jana
Meri manpasand ban jana,

Inse mujhe kya hai haasil phir bhi
Ye hai meri aadat mein shamil ….

And the magic of Rajesh Roshan with Kishore Kumar serenading you as the words and tune gently define how musicologist Pratap (Dev Anand) has begun to fall in love with the flower girl Kamli (Tina Munim). This is one of the most exquisite solos of Kishore Kumar for Rajesh Roshan.

These were just seven of my selected gems from Rajesh Roshan. Would love to hear from you in the comments below about your favourite Rajesh Roshan songs!